The Awakening Chapters 20 & 21

1. The AwakeningChapters 20 & 21 By: Evan and Mike

2. Overview Chapter 20 • Edna, feeling very depressed, decides that she wants to go see Mademoiselle Reisz, and listen to her play the piano. She visits the address she believed Mademoiselle to be living in, however she is no where to be found. She then questions a local grocery store employee on her whereabouts, before realizing that Madame Lebrun would be able to give her the information. She makes her way to Madame Lebrun’s house, where she is met by Victor at the gate along with a maid. After sending the maid in to fetch his mother, Victor accompanies Edna in sitting on the front porch, and he tells Edna about his recollections of the night before, which she finds intrigued and entertained listening to. When Madame Lebrun arrives to meet Edna, she tells her about how boring she finds the city life now having nothing to do, and tells Edna about two letters Robert had sent them. Victor explains what Robert had wrote about; their financial situations, the city of Mexico, the buildings, the people and their habits and the living conditions. Edna then remembers why she had initially sought out Madame Lebrun, who gives her the proper address of MadamoiselleReisz. Victor then escorts Edna to the car, and when he returns, both he and his mother remark on Edna’s ravishing appearance, and how “some way she doesn’t seem like the same woman”

3. Overview Continued... • Chapter 21 • Edna visits Mademoiselle Reisz, who is delighted to see her. She tells Edna she has received a letter from Robert in which he spoke constantly of Edna and asked Mademoiselle Reisz to play Chopin's "Impromptu" for her. Edna convinces Mademoiselle Reisz to allow her to read Robert's letter. She also laughingly informs Mademoiselle Reisz that she is becoming a painter, to which Mademoiselle Reisz replies that artists require "brave souls." While Mademoiselle Reisz plays the Chopin piece, Edna reads the letter and weeps with emotion, moved by the music and the indirect contact with Robert. She leaves in tears, asking leave to come visit again.

4. In-Depth Analysis Ch. 20 • Character development of Edna • Edna’s desire to have what she can’t want. • Edna’s desire to find and see MadamoiselleReisz increases tenfold once there are obstacles keeping Edna from reaching her immediately • Reflection of Edna’s desire for Robert, wanting him more than anything, especially now that he is gone and she cannot have him • Edna finds Victor’s story as a window into a life she wants, as well as a sexual Awakening • Edna finds Victor’s story entertaining because it reminds her of her youth when she had fantasies and such that are like the ones that Victor describes, increasing her sexual awakening and youthful desire for Robert. • Victor’s story is a portrayal of the life which Edna desires to have, such little responsibility, and the freedom to explore her own sexuality and desires as she pleases

5. Analysis Cont’d • Development of character relationships • Edna’s relationship with Robert is strained • Edna feels hurt that Robert has not yet sent her a letter or left any message for her since his departure. This deeply saddens Edna, as she has already realized her true feelings for Robert, and this feeling of not being recognized deepens her desperation to win his attention and affection

6. Close Analysis Ch. 21 • Presentation of Mademoiselle Reisz's Apartment • highly symbolic of her life and of the life of an artist and independent person. Mademoiselle Reisz tries to avoid the traffic of ordinary life, choosing a top floor apartment to "discourage the approach of beggars, peddlers, and callers." Her unrelenting honesty about human nature and the prescribed niceties of genteel culture underlie her desire to be removed from such pedestrian distractions. • “Genteel” is defined as: “one who is pretending or trying to have the qualities and manners of people who have high social status”. • Mademoiselle Reisz's frank appraisal of others' behaviors and virtues (or lack thereof) renders her unlikable to most everyone. Her respect for honesty is such, however, that she is "greatly pleased" by Edna's candid admission that she doesn't know whether or not she actually likes her.

7. Close Analysis Ch. 21 Cont’d… • Mademoiselle Reisz's definition of an artist • Mademoiselle Reisz's definition of an artist as a person who not only possesses "absolute gifts — which have not been acquired by one's own effort" but also a "brave soul. The soul that dares and defies." In this definition, the efforts of hard work and practice matter less than an innate, indisputable talent and the courage to use those talents to produce work true to itself, true to an individual vision that defies the dictates of tradition or convention. • Edna does not ask for clarification or offer an opinion herself; she asks only to see Robert's letter again and hear the music piece he'd mentioned. Her interests lie more with pursuing love than with developing her art. Yet in her pursuit of love, which is both incidental to and coincident with her discovery of her self, Edna shows she has the heart to dare and defy, to act in accordance with her own wishes despite extreme pressure to uphold her conventional role as faithful wife and mother. She has made passion her main priority.

8. Discussion • Why do you think that Robert has yet to send any letter or message to Edna after leaving for Mexico? • Why do you think Edna has taken such a liking to MadamoiselleReisz while others view her in such a different light? • What about Edna do you think made Victor to make the remark that “some way she doesn’t seem like the same woman”?